The Philippines through the Manila Cathedral has received a very important relic of St. John Paul II from the pontiff’s former secretary.

The relic, according to CBCP (Catholic Bishops of the Philippines) News, is a vial of the blood of the saint himself, a gift to Filipino Catholics from his longtime aide and secretary and now Cardinal Stanislaus Dziwisz, archbishop emeritus of Krakow in Poland.

The rare relic was brought by a Poland-based Filipino nun on Dec. 11.

The late pope, who was canonized in 2014, celebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral in February 1981.

Two months afterward, he declared the cathedral, which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its postwar construction, a Minor Basilica.

Aid for ‘Vinta’ victims

Caritas Manila (CM), social arm and development program of the Archdiocese of Manila, sent a total of P1,861,500 in financial assistance to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; Dioceses of Tagum, Iligan, Ipil and Dipolog; and Prelature of Marawi.

In an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas (RV), Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on the faithful to continue helping CM in aiding families affected by typhoon “Vinta” in Mindanao.

CM executive director and RV head Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual said donations could be made online via https://ushare.unionbankph.com/caritas/ or by bank deposit:

Account name: Caritas Manila

Banco de Oro SA no. 5600-45905

Bank of the Philippine Islands SA no. 3063-5357-01

Metrobank SA no. 175-3-175069543

For dollar accounts:

BPI SA no. 3064-0033-5 (swift code BOPIPHMM)

Philippine National Bank SA no. 108566600025 (swift code PNBMPHMM)

Donations can also be made at Cebuana Lhuillier (free of charge) or dropped off at CM office (2002 Jesus St, Pandacan, Manila) or at RV office (Paramount Building, West Avenue and Edsa, QC).

For proper acknowledgment of donation, donor (with complete name and address) may fax copy of deposit slip to 563-9306 or e-mail a scanned copy to [email protected].

Capiz church fund-raising

“Pamasko kay Santo Niño,” a benefit dinner show to raise funds for the construction of the Holy Child Parish Church of Maayon, Capiz, will be held on Jan. 6, 5 p.m., at the Grand Riviera (8/F function room) on Padre Faura Street and Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila.

Fr. Erno Diaz of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Ministry said Holy Mass would precede the dinner.

Father Diaz added the dinner show would have the “special participation” of 2017 Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Rodriguez and the Bayanihan Dance Company.

Those who wish to donate, according to Father Diaz, may issue checks payable to:

Account name: Holy Child Parish of Maayon

BDO Roxas City branch account no. 0033901955-18.

For announcements, e-mail [email protected].